Category: Stylish Entertaining

Caramelized Baby Carrots, Prickly Pear Cactus Syrup

Caramelized Baby Carrots, Prickly Pear Cactus Syrup

Caramelized Baby French Carrots
Prickly Pear Cactus Syrup
Scallions, Mint, Dill, Pine Nuts, Edible Flower Petals

There aren’t many Easter posts on Taste With The Eyes, because, you know, we celebrate Passover here… I’ve already shared my new matzoh ball recipe, and have a fabulous cold poached salmon with 3 horseradish sauces in the wings.

But today, Easter Sunday, I had some beautiful Baby French Carrots on hand, so they were roasted with Prickly Pear Cactus Syrup (we live in the desert after all) and they turned out surprisingly delicious. Sweet, savory, nutty, herby. I dressed them up for Spring with some flower petals, and I think they would make a fabulous Easter side dish.

Extending my best wishes to you, my friends, for a glorious Easter.

Caramelized Baby Carrot Recipe

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Halibut Cantonese-Style

Cantonese-Style Halibut

Steamed Halibut Cantonese-Style

Firm, lean, meaty, mild, and slightly sweet. Bright white flesh Halibut is often best cooked with moist methods like poaching, steaming, or braising. Inspired by Cantonese technique, here a beautiful piece of Alaskan halibut is cooked in a bamboo steamer then served in a big shallow pool of soy-ginger-garlic-sesame sauce. Each flake is drenched in the flavorful sauce before each bite. It’s quite heavenly.

Halibut Cantonese-Style Recipe

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Cauliflower and Aged Gouda Soufflé

Cauliflower and Aged Gouda Soufflé

Cauliflower and Aged Gouda Soufflé

These delightful soufflés are perfect for a springtime luncheon! 36 month-aged Gouda from the Netherlands adds nutty, butterscotch flavors and an interesting salt crystal crunchy texture. This flavorful cheese pairs well with a full-bodied complex Alsatian Pinot Gris.

The soufflés are super easy to prepare, and bake up to a puffed golden brown in 35 minutes. Served with a pretty side salad, they make a lovely light lunch…or easily double the recipe and serve them on a platter as part of a buffet because, as a bonus, the soufflés hardly deflate so they are excellent for entertaining.

Cauliflower Soufflé Recipe

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Seared Albacore, Peppercorn Brandy Cream Flambé

Seared Albacore, Peppercorn Brandy Cream Flambé

Seared Albacore
Peppercorn Brandy Cream Flambé

Albacore au Poivre is special but not complicated. A sushi-grade piece of fish, four ingredients, plus FIRE are all it takes to prepare this exceptional dish. And it comes together in about 15 minutes. Hard to believe…

Peppercorns, butter, and brandy combine in a quick showy presentation. Rich cream is swirled in at the end. Et voilà!

Seared Albacore Au Poivre Recipe

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Salmon Sashimi, Dry Ice Display

Salmon Sashimi, Dry Ice Display

Salmon Sashimi, Dry Ice Display

Our monthly seafood subscription from Alaska arrives in a smart environmentally responsible box. Shipped to us in Las Vegas, the fillets have always been rock-hard and frozen-solid due to the great packaging using -110°F dry ice.

When the box arrives, it always has a few small slabs of dry ice still intact. It was fun to use the remaining dry ice to present a piece of the fabulous Alaska sockeye salmon served sashimi style.

Salmon SashimiSockeye Salmon Sashimi
Garlic, Shallot, Olive Oil
Chili Crunch, Edamame, Tamari, Lemon
Smoked Maldon Sea Salt Flakes

Since dry ice must be used soon after delivery, defrost a beautiful piece of sockeye using the “quick-thaw” method. Keep fish in the vacuum-sealed packaging, place it is another ziplock baggie in case there are any pinholes in the packaging.  Submerge it in cold ice water, flip the fish over every 30 minutes or so. Depending on the thickness it might take 45 – 75 minutes to thaw. It is easier to slice the fish if it is not totally defrosted.

Remove skin and pin bones from the salmon and slice sashimi style. Arrange on a piece of slate chosen to fit over the dry ice display. Serve with chili crunch, edamame, and tamari in small bowls on the side. Also place lemon wedges and smoked Maldon sea salt flakes for serving, on the platter.

Finally, when ready to display, drizzle olive oil down the middle of the salmon and top with thinly sliced shallot and minced garlic. Orchids make a nice presentation too, while edible, they are here mainly for show.

Dry Ice Display

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